The Story of the Renaissance

The Story of the Renaissance

The Story of the Renaissance

Excerpt

This is an attempt to put a large subject into a relatively small book, and the task of compression has been the more difficult because I have done my utmost to avoid the dry style of the mere epitome and to preserve the living interest of my story. The special student of particular aspects of the Renaissance will miss many names and facts which he rightly regards as important. But I will ask him to remember that this is not an exhaustive essay, or series of essays, on particular aspects, but only a broad survey of the general field. My controlling aim throughout has been to indicate the origin, nature, inter-relations, and effects of some of the most potent of the forces which co-operated in bringing about the great movement of transition from the mediæval to the modern world.

In writing of the Renaissance one is bound at times to touch upon controversial matters. In regard to these, I have, of course, taken my own line, and have dealt with things as I see them. But personal opinions have nowhere been obtruded.